Doug

I post this in tosogu because it is no longer an active auction and I wanted the opinions of the tsuba experts as it were. eBay auction number 200885297055. The pictures are not the greatest but was curious to hear your collective thoughts on signature, artist, and school as it seems to me the nicest I've seen on eBay in a very long time. Doug

Just my .02 but I think it could be cast. Some of the detail looks a little washed out to me including the mei. Additionally, there appears to be remnants of the mold seam in the ana. Always the nice thing about a qualified statement, if I'm right it's told you so and if wrong then what do I know! :D Doug

Rich, You describe this as an Edo-period wakizashi but I dont know if that is necessarily true. It's shape may indicate a koto period nagamaki-naoshi. This would mean it was cut down (from bottom up) and its nakago reshaped to fit in a conventional handle. I remember your other pic of this sword with the habaki slid down and that the hamachi and munemachi were uneven indicating further this might not be the original shape. Take the habaki off and angling at the light seen if the hamon curves to an end at the hamachi or disappears into the nakago (this may be hard to see). Swords were made in later periods to re-create this shape and without an experienced person looking at the blade in hand it is very much speculation. So all that said, go easy with the brass brush and cleaning efforts as tempting and benign as they may seem. Actions taken now that seem to be making no difference now can have larger impact at finer stages of polishing. I think there may be some nice things in this sword so get it to your polisher and let them get started so you can have it back sooner and start REALLY enjoying it. Polish may help you answer your questions regarding age and school that are just too hard to ascertain from the condition state and photos. Best of luck!

My guess on the mei is Shigetada. I feel pretty good about the Shige but that second one is just too tough to make out. If you could draw a sketch of the character as you can see it from many different light sources. If you can even get close folks here can often get it. Good luck Rich. Doug

Jean, I have a Bizenesque sword with the mei Bizen Kuni Ju Yoshihira and also had no luck in finding an example. In fact, I can find no examples of Bizen Kuni ju ANYONE (no osafune, yoshioka etc.)in the books I have (which isnt many but Koza, Zuikan and others) What I did find is multiple examples of Bitchu Kuni Ju which got me to thinking about mei evolution and regional differences. I was hoping some senior members could weigh in generally on these differences and why even in the same or adjacent province,within the same time frame, you see this variability (from niji mei only to full name and nengo). Sorry if this is a hijack Jean, I ask this questions because I get the sense that if a mei doesn't fit certain typical conventions there is a tendency to dismiss as gimei (perhaps rightly so) before even considering the sword itself. Curious to hear others opinions/experience. Doug Doug McLay (formerly dkirkpatrick on the board)